Real Madrid's Pepe impressed by rising level of MLS

LOS ANGELES --The members of the LA Galaxy are excited to face Spanish giants Real Madrid this Thursday at The Home Depot Center and according to Madrid's star defender Pepe, the excitement goes both ways.

Thursday's match will be the third consecutive year that Los Blancos have faced the Galaxy in Southern California and according to the Portuguese International, the Spanish giants are increasingly impressed with the rising level of MLS. During Tuesday's press conference on the campus of UCLA, Pepe told reporters that he is excited about the chance to face the Galaxy.

Pepe's quotes below...

PEPE: “It’s the third year that I’ve come here [for preseason] to the United States and the truth is that every year that goes by, the players here have more quality and are much more competitive. Soccer is a universal sport and with certainty, this [match against the Galaxy] will be a difficult game for us."

(On an apparent injury to Xabi Alonso in a Tuesday morning training session...)

PEPE: “It is normal that these things happen in a training session. There has been a test and he is already with the doctor, but I believe he will be in the afternoon session."